The science of crime scene investigation

The science of crime scene investigation Today’s Video of the Day comes from the American Chemical Society’s Reactions series and features a look at crime scene investigation and forensic science.

The popularity of television detective crime drama shows has certainly increased public interest in forensic science, but they have also created some unrealistic expectations of the field.

In real life, forensics all comes down to chemical analysis, which can take a good deal of time and patience. Steps to conducting a criminal investigation include arriving at the crime scene, documenting the crime scene, processing the scene, and completing and recording the crime scene investigation, explains the National Institute of Justice.

A forensic crime scene unit consists of crime scene investigators who document an active crime or accident scene and collect, classify and identify evidence that’s later analyzed in a lab. The most general of crime scene investigator jobs is the criminologist. This individual is trained to process a crime scene in terms of dusting and processing fingerprints, identifying and preserving physical evidence, and photographing the scene.

A:In order to become a crime scene investigator, you must at least have an associate or bachelor’s degree. You must have also completed a training program in crime scene investigation. You can pursue short courses in forensic science and build the necessary skills needed to pursue a career in this field.

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By Rory Arnold, Earth.com Staff Writer

Video Credit: American Chemical Society